Car wheel



June 18, 1935.

C. SA URE R CAR WHEEL Filed April 14, 1951 IN\IIENTOR 5190 95? ATTORNEYS;

Patented June 18, 1935 UNITED STATE This invention flanged car and the like, and

. CAR WHEEL Curt Saurer, Akron,

a corporation of Ohio Application April 14, 1931, Serial No.

' IS in an axial direction is resisted by the resistance 9 Claims. relates to car wheels such as wheels for railway coaches, tramcars more especially it relates to car wheels of the character mentioned comprising rubber to reduce while the latter is Car wheels comprising noise and. vibration of the car moving.

rubber have been used with considerable successby railroads for sleeping cars and dining cars,

but such car wheels heretofore provided have lacked lateral stability, that is, they lacked adequate rigidity in an axial direction with the result that there was excessive wear on the flanges of the wheels.

The chief objects of this invention are to provide a car wheel of the character mentioned that is relatively resilient in a radial direction and relatively rigid in vide means for movement of the an axial direction; and to prodeterminately limiting relative wheel parts at least in one direction. Other obiectswill be manifest.

Of the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevationof a car wheel constituting one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 1; and

2-2 of Figure Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 are radial sections of other embodiments of the invention. Referring to Figures 1 and I0 is the hub of 2 of the drawing,

a car wheel, H is an annular radial flange formed integral therewith, I2 is a cushion of resilient rubber composition upon the outer periphery of the cushion I2 of, and I4 face of the cushion l2 the ring 13, the

rings l3, ll being is a ring that engages thereof and the adiacentpora ring that is lateralface and the outer periphery therethe other lateral and the adjacent edge of outer peripheral faces of the flush. The rubbercushion I2 is mounted in the position described while in plastic unvulcanized condition, and then is vulcanized so that it adheres strongly to the respective members that are in contact with it. A railengaging tire l5'formed with the usual side-flange is mounted upon the outer peripheral faces of the rings I3, It, usually by shrinking it thereon.

Relative movement of the hub l0 and tire l5 in a radial direction is yieldingly resisted by the resistance to compression of the relatively small mass of rubber of the cushion l2 disposed between the outer periphery of underlying portion extent by resistance curvature of the in the the flange i I and the of the ring [2, and to a lesser to compression of the rubber wheel flange, indicated at l6. Relative movement of the hub l0 and tire Akron, Ohio,

to compression of the relatively large masses of rubber of the cushion on the lateral faces of the flange H. Since the cushion i2 is vulcanized to the respective wheel members, relative movement thereof imposes some tension on the rubber of the cushion i2 and thereby assists in resisting relative movement of the said members, but the principal advantage of the vulcanization of the rubber to the metal is to hold the parts securely together and to prevent the entrance of water or foreign matter between the rubber and metal and to prevent relative movement between the surface of the rubber cushion and the adjacent metal surface. If such action were permitted rapid wearing away of the rubber surface would result.

Because of the fact that the mass of rubber of the cushion l2 between the periphery of the flange ii and ring i3 is relatively small as compared to the masses of rubber between the lateral faces of the flange and adjacent rings, there is greater resistance to relative movement of the hub It] and tire G5 in an axial direction than in a radial direction, and this differential of resistance is further increased by reason of the fact that relative axial movement of the wheel parts places an annular region of the cushion l2 under compression, whereas relative radial movement of the wheel parts compresses only that part of the cushion l2 that is between the periphery of the flange II and the ring I3 below the axis of the wheel. The arrangement provides a wheel that is relatively resilient in a radial direction and relatively rigid, yet having some resilience, in an axal direction.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 3, the hub Ill has an integral radial flange II that has a laterally extending peripheral portion or flange I! that adds materially to the peripheral width of the hub flange l I. The resilient rubber cushion I2 is disposed upon the lateral and peripheral faces of the flange I l completely surrounding the flange I] of the-latter. An L- shaped ring l3 embraces one lateral face and about half the width of the peripheral face of'the cushion l2, and another ring l4 embraces the opposite lateral face of the cushion l2 including the part thereof on both sides of the flange l1, and the remainder of the peripheral face of the cushion. The cushion l2 is vulcanized to the respective metal parts that engage it, and the usual tire I5 is shrunk onto the outer peripheral surface of the rings [3, M The arrangement effects much greater radial rigidity than is present in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, and

illustrates how the proportionatediiferential of resilience in radial and axial directions may be varied as desired.

Referring now to Figure 4 of the drawing, the wheel comprises a hub 20 formed with an annular radial flange 2|, the perimeter of which is somewhat widened, and a wide ring 22 of somewhat smaller diameter than the flange 2| and secured to the latter by an annular series of bolts 23, the ring 22 seating about a concentric, laterally projecting rib 24 formed on the flange 2|. The ring 22 is formed with a radial flange 25 that is parallel to and spaced apart from the flange 2|, and the flange 25 has its outer peripheral portion widened by means of a circumferential offset portion 26. Circumscribing the flange 2| and flange 25 of the ring 22 is a ring 21 that is T-shaped in section, the vertical, portion thereof extending inwardly and being positioned between said flanges 2| and 25 and spaced apart from both of them, and the horizontal portion of the ring being spaced from the outer periphery of the said flanges. Mounted between the flanges 2 25, and the adjacent vertical and horizontal portions of the ring 21 is an annular cushion of resilient rubber composition 28 that is vulcanized to the adjacent metal members of the wheel. A tire 29 of the usual flanged type is shrunk onto the outer periphery of the ring 21.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 5 of the drawing is similar to that shown in Figure 4 except that it has greater radial resilience than the latter, which feature is the result of greater radial depth of the rubber cushion 28 and less transverse surface thereof in engagement the outer peripheral surfaces of the flanges 2|, 25 and inner peripheral surface of the ring 21 The ring 22 is secured to the flange 2| by means of a circumferential series of stud bolts 30 that are threaded into the flange 2| and extend through the intervening rubber cushion 28 and through the'fiange 25 of the ring 22, and a second circumferential series of stud bolts 3| that are threaded into the flange 2| and extend through the intervening rubber cushion 28 and vertical portion of the ring 21 and through the flange 25 of the ring 22, both sets of bolts being provided with nuts set up against the outer face of the flange 25.

The vertical portion of the ring 21 is formed with respective apertures 32 which are somewhat larger than the stud bolts 3| and through which the latter extend, the arrangement providing a fixed limit for relative radial movement of the wheel parts.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 6, the wheel comprises a hub 35 formed with a radial flange 36, a ring 31 that circumscribes said hub and is permanently secured thereto as by welding at 38, said ring being formed with a radial flange 39 that is parallel to the flange 36 and spaced apart therefrom. Between the flanges 36, 39 is the vertical portion of a T-shaped ring 40 that is similar to the ring 21, and a cushion of resilient rubber 4| similar to the cushion 28 is similarly mounted with relation to the flanges 36, 39, and the ring 40. The vertical portion of the ring 40 is formed with a circumferential series of apertures 42 and extending through said apertures are respective spacer members 43 of smaller size than the apertures, said spacer members extending through the rubber cushion on each side of the vertical portion of the ring and having their ends secured to the respective flanges 36, 39. ,The spacer members 43 may be riveted, as shown in the drawing, after the vulcanization of the rubber cushion. The arrangement imparts rigidity to the peripheral regions of the flanges 36, 39, and also limits the relative movement of the wheel parts in a radial direction.

Bonding of the rubber to the adjacent metal parts during vulcanization affords a unitary wheel construction having a high factor of safety and better adapted to withstand relative movement of the hub and tire portions of the wheel. The in vention provides readily for varying the proportionate resilience of car wheels in radial and axial directions, whereby the desired resilience may be obtained. By making the wheel relatively rigid in an axial direction, excessive Wear on the tire flange of the wheel is avoided.

It may be found desirable to finish the bore of the hub and the periphery of the tire roughly prior to vulcanization. In this event after the rubber cushion has been cured in place the hub and tire are suitably clamped against relative movement and the bore of the hub and peripheral surface of the tire accurately machined.

Other modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims which are not limited wholly to the specific construction shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a car wheel, the combination of a hub formed with a radial flange, a concentric ring secured to said hub flange, and formed with a flange parallel to and spaced therefrom, a second ring circumscribing the aforesaid flanges, and formed with an inwardly extending flange disposed betweenthe two first mentioned flanges, a cushion of resilient rubber so mounted between said flanges and rings as yieldingly to resist relative movement of said members in a radial and in both axial directions, said cushion also extending between the circumscribing part of said second ring and the outer periphery of said flanges, and means for determinately limiting relative radial and axial movement of the members, said means being disposed radially intermediate the inner and outer periphery of said flanges.

2. In a car wheel, the combination of a hub formed with a radial flange, a ring mounted concentrically thereon and formed with a flange disposed parallel to and spaced apart therefrom, a second ring circumscribing the aforesaid flanges and formed with an inwardly extending flange disposed between and spaced from the aforesaid flanges, said flanges being of considerable axial thickness and manifesting substantial resistance to flexure or distortion in response to stresses set up therein, a cushion of resilient rubber so mounted between said rings and flanges as yieldingly to resist relative radial and axial movement of the parts, and a spacer member secured to the two outer flanges of the assembly and extending through the intervening cushion and ring-flange, the latter being formed with an aperture of greater diameter than the spacer member to accommodate the same, whereby relative radial movement of the parts is determinately limited, said spacer member also being operable to restrain said flanges against axial movement toward and away from each other.

3. A wheel comprising a hub member composed of two sections disposed endwise and each having a wide annular flange, a felloe member having a wide annular flange between said hub flanges, and a ring of rubber filling the space opposite the sides and periphery of said felloe her and element and having an inwardly dlrectflange and cured therein under pressure. ed flange disposed between the flanges of said 4. A metal wheel comprising a hub member hub member and element, abody of resilient ma-' and a felloe member provided with widely overterial disposed between said flanges and providlapping flanges, an annular rubber member inmg a yielding connection therebetween; and a 5 terposed between said flanges and cured thereto plurality of circularly spaced stabilizing pins exand a rim member shrunk on said felloe member. tending through all of said flanges and disposed 5. A wheel comprising a hub member, a felloe radially intermediate the clamping faces of the member, one of said members being composed of latter, said stabilizing pins being secured to the two sections disposed endwise and each having a flanges of said hub member and element and wide annular flange, and the other of said memconstituting the sole connection therebetween, bers having a wide annular flange between the said stabilizing pins having means provided flanges of said sections, rubber interposed bethereon. for preventing axial movement of the tween the flanges of said members, said rubber outer regions of said hub member and element completely isolating, and constituting the sole flanges toward and away from each other. connection between said huband felloe members, '7. The resilient wheel described in claim 6, and an annular member tightly fitting the two wherein said stabilizing pins extend through sections of said sectional member for holding them oversized openings in said rim member flange together, said annular member holding said secwith a predetermined degree of lost-motion, for tions together with said rubber under a prededeterminately limiting relative radial deflection termined degree of elastic deformation. of said rim and hub members a a nst the action 6. In a resilient wheel, a hub member having of said resilient material. a substantially radially disposed clamp ring face 8. The resilient wheel described in claim 6, and an abutment face disposed inwardly of said wherein Said Stabilizing p a e encased in said clamping face; a ring-like element operably asresilient material and are provided with shoulas sociated with said hub member and having a subdef-5 frictionally engaging the p ng aces of stantially radially disposed clamping face, said Said 1111b and element fl eselement terminating at its inner periphery in an The resilient Wheel dscribed in (3181111 axially directed cylindrical flange, same element together with a second set of stabilizing pins disbeing disposed with said flange in frictional enposed inwardly of said fi Stabilizing Pi but gagement with said abutment face and with its outwardly of said cylindrwal flange, and p a e clamping fac spaced from t clamping face of to maintain the latter in frictional engagement said hub member to provide a substantially parwith Said abutment faceallel-walled annular recess therebetween, a ring- CURT SAURER- like rim member circumscribing said hub mem- 

